We're thankful for President Obama's leadership during the Great Recession, and we appreciate what he's done to make America a better place. Here's just some of his best work:

His first achievement was to sign the Lily Ledbetter Act that guarantees equal pay for women.

He moved to stop anti-gay discrimination in the military by ending, "Don't ask Don't Tell."

He put a stop to the breaking up of immigrant families and the deportation of thousands of young people who grew up here and are American in every way, except on paper. We stand with our Latino brothers and sisters in supporting immigration reform, and you have signaled that will be part of your agenda.

We applaud the president for Obamacare, for rescuing America's automobile industry, and for the American Recovery Act funds that delivered intensive care to our mortally wounded economy.

Those achievements prevented some misery and poverty for African American families, as they have for every other group of Americans.

But we wonder why the crisis facing America's Black communities has received almost no attention.

Where are the policies that will reduce the wealth gap, lower Black unemployment and make sure Black families have roofs over their heads, food on their tables, and college on their resumes?

Last summer, census figures revealed that, in 2010, the average (median) White household was worth $110,729. But an average Black household's net worth is just $4,995. What's more the wealth gap widened considerably during the recession.

Then there's unemployment. The December jobs report shows the overall unemployment rate at 7.8 percent. Yet for Blacks it's 14 percent. And for young Black males you need to double that figure – at least. Don't' we all know that when there is no work to be had, crime takes its place.

On Jan. 21, 2013, President Obama will be inaugurated for the second time. That's an achievement that could not have occurred without the enthusiastic support of African Americans. He received more than 90 percent of the Black vote in both elections. Yet, he has done nothing specific to improve the wellbeing of America's Black communities.

Our communities are in crisis, with no sign of a bailout. After WWII, the Marshall plan rebuilt many of Europe's destroyed communities. Today, we need some kind of Marshall Plan for America's Black communities.

History has shown us that when large bureaucracies control federal funds– they often don't reach the people who are in most need. So we're asking for funds to go to Black-led grassroots organizations with a track record of success in their communities.

President Obama, we call on you to create a Marshall Plan for Black America. We need an infusion of funding into Black institutions, education and employers. We need financial resources to create economic development that will get our communities back on their feet.

Mr. President, at your rallies, the crowds shower you with love. And we hear you telling your supporters "I love you back."

But haven't Black Americans shown you a lot of love? So when are you going to love US back?

We hope our readers will agree that America's Black Communities need and deserve an economic development plan backed up with the financial resources necessary to put our communities on an equal footing with the rest of America.

On Jan. 17 we launched a petition at the White House website, "We The People," that will ask President Obama to create a Marshall Plan for the Black Community. From there we will have 30 days to gather 25,000 signatures. The Skanner News will post a link to the petition on our website for 30 days –from Jan. 21 to Feb. 20, 2013. Will we succeed? That's up to you. Sign the petition. Ask your friends and families and organizations to sign the petition. Hold a Marshall Plan house party or signature collection event. If enough people sign, we can get the president's attention and maybe even, "A Marshall Plan for Black America."

If you support the petition talk to your people: at work; church; school; clubs and ask them to support our request that President Obama "Create a Marshall Plan for Black America

The First Amendment gives all Americans the right to "petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

So in the age of the Internet, the Obama White House has created a petition website to make it easy to exercise that right. The "We the People…" website (https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/) offers a place to post petitions and sign them if you agree.

The petition won't appear on the We the People Website until it has 150 signatures. We're looking for 200 signatures TODAY!

After that, any petition that gets enough support, currently 100,000 signatures, will automatically receive an official response. Petitions must be short to meet the website guidelines.

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The Petition:

"Create A Marshall Plan for Black America"

African Americans as a group remain enormously disadvantaged in the United States of America.

The 2010 census showed that the median wealth owned by White families was $110,000, yet an average Black family owns less than $5,000.

Black unemployment is generally twice that of Whites. In fact, racial disparities, rooted in America's shameful history of slavery and discrimination, affect every major economic indicator, as well as health and education outcomes.

America has failed to live up to its promise of equal opportunities for all. This wrong must be put right.

After WWII, the Marshall Plan rebuilt Europe. We call on President Obama to create "A Marshall Plan for Black America".

We ask the president to fund a grassroots economic development plan that will create true equality for all